“Rock bottom” – Five players who FLOPPED in Round Four of The 2026 Six Nations

Rugby News

by Rugby Rucker

Saturday, 07 March 2026 at 20:37

byRugby Rucker

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Round Four of the 2026 Six Nations produced thrilling moments and standout performances across the tournament.

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Scotland and France delivered a 90-point spectacle, Italy stunned England with a memorable victory, and Ireland battled past Wales in a bruising encounter.

But while several players enhanced their reputations, others endured difficult afternoons. Whether through costly errors, disciplinary lapses or performances that simply failed to meet expectations, a handful of big names struggled to make the impact their teams needed.

Here are five players whose performances fell short in Round Four.

1. Antoine Dupont (France): The Genius Who Glitched

Antoine Dupont remains the best player in the world – but even the best have off days. This was a strange one.

The first half was vintage Dupont. His stunning steal on Sione Tuipulotu – after Yoram Moefana had been brushed aside in defence – created something out of nothing and led to Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s opening try. It was pure rugby genius.

Then the second half happened.

Errors crept in at an alarming rate. A pass straight to Kyle Steyn gifted Scotland possession, and a forward pass behind his own goal line after carrying the ball over was one of the most bizarre moments of the match. Dupont did score late on, but it couldn’t mask a chaotic second half.

In short: proof that even rugby’s ultimate cheat code is, occasionally, human.

2. Maro Itoje (England): Unforgivable captain

Itoje was far more involved than he has been in previous rounds of the tournament.

The England captain produced several dominant tackles and won a key turnover early in the second half. His relentless work at the breakdown briefly helped relieve pressure as Italy pushed forward.

But the momentum swung dramatically around the hour mark. After England conceded a penalty, Itoje was shown a yellow card for knocking the ball out of Alessandro Fusco’s hands — a decision that sparked debate but proved hugely damaging.

With England reduced further, the contest quickly slipped away from them.

Former England international Austin Healey voiced his frustration on X, writing:
“Sorry that’s unforgivable from your captain.”

Itoje’s defensive contributions were notable, but the costly card overshadowed his efforts.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland): Power without punch

Furlong dug in for plenty of hard yards but never quite looked like the destructive force Ireland rely on. His carrying lacked its usual punch and he even spilled possession in the 56th minute during one of Ireland’s forward surges.

Ireland did initially hold the upper hand at scrum time, and Furlong remained heavily involved in the tight exchanges as the Irish pack tried to grind down the Welsh defence.

However, his afternoon was blemished when he failed to stop opposite number Rhys Carre in the lead-up to Wales’ try before half-time. Frustration began to show as the game wore on, including a heated moment with replacement prop Nicky Smith before he was eventually withdrawn.

4. Seb Atkinson (England): Lack of impact

Seb Atkinson was making his first appearance of the Championship and faced the difficult task of helping spark an England attack that has struggled throughout the tournament.

The Gloucester centre never fully clicked with fly-half Fin Smith, with several passages highlighting a lack of understanding between the pair.

Atkinson looked slightly rusty early on, throwing a couple of loose passes and later attempting a speculative offload to his former clubmate that resulted in a turnover.

While he showed enthusiasm and willingness to get involved, the challenge of revitalising England’s backline proved too much.

Up against Italy’s powerful Tommaso Menoncello, Atkinson often found himself second best on his Six Nations debut.

5. Yoram Moefana (France): Defensive Rock… Turned Defensive Sinkhole

Yoram Moefana was selected for his defensive solidity. Unfortunately, that solidity never materialised.

He missed a one-on-one tackle on Huw Jones early on and ended the match with seven missed tackles – a brutal tally in a game where Scotland repeatedly targeted the midfield channel. Two of Scotland’s tries could be traced directly back to defensive lapses in his area.

What made the situation even more baffling was that Moefana remained on the field for the full 80 minutes despite the struggles. With the ball he offered very little, and defensively it was a nightmare from start to finish.

Knowing Galthié’s ruthless selection policy, this could be a performance that haunts his international prospects.

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